God, there is much which needs to be elucidated. In it are comprehended,
1. An adoption into his family —
[By nature, we belong to a far different family : for " we are of our father the devil :" and, being " children of disobedience," we are also " children of wrath." But God takes to himself a people out of that wretched mass, and adopts them as his own ; giving to them the name of sons, the privileges of sons, the endearments of sons, and acting towards
them in all respects as a loving Father It is in and
through the Lord Jesus Christ that he effects this. In " sending his Son to redeem them that were under the law," he did it, " that we might receive the adoption of sons11."]
2. A participation of his nature—
[When man adopts any person, he may deal with the adopted person as his son ; but he can never really make him a son. But when God sets apart any for this high relation, he creates them anew, and makes them entirely " new crea- tures." He imparts to them his Holy Spirit, and makes them "partakers of the divine natureb;" so that they become, in reality, his sons ; being " begotten of him," and " born unto himc." Hence, with the new relation, there spring up in their souls new views, new dispositions, new desires, new habits altogether3: and in God also there arises, not a mere arbitrary good-will, but a paternal interest, a special regard, such as exists in every part of the creation between the parent and the progeny. All this, then, is comprehended, (this change of nature on their part, and this peculiar regard on his,) when we speak of any as made " sons of God."]
3. A title to his inheritance —
[This does not necessarily exist among men ; but with God it does. Every one that is born of him, is begotten to an inheritance, even an inheritance that " fadeth not awaye." " If we are sons, we are also heirs, heirs of God, and joint- heirs with Christ f." There is this peculiarity also attaching to the children of God : they are all his " first-born g." They are the brethren of Christ ; and partakers with him in all that he himself inherits — his throne, his kingdom, his glory h.]
And now let us contemplate — II. The wonderful love of God, in bringing us into that relation to himself —
a Gal. iv. 4, 5. b 2 Pet. i. 4. c 1 John v. 1, 18.
d Gal. iv. 6. and Rom. viii. 15, 1G. e 1 Pet. i. 1, 3, 4.
f Rom. viii. 17. e Exod. iv. 22. Heb. xii. 23.
h Rev. ii. 21. John xvii. 22.